ee 4 2 _ to answer. Hughes says he expects to VICTORIA — The fat lady is about to sing and when she’s done, it’s over for Premier Vander Zalm, one way or another. After the investigation to which he submitted voluntarily is completed, the premier will be either exonerated or hung out to dry. But whatever the outcome, the future of the Social Credit Party may already be sealed. “What role, if any, did Premier Vander Zalm play in the 1990 sale of Fantasy Gardens?” “Tf Premier Vander Zalm did play a role in that sale, was he in breach of Conflict of Interest Guidelines put in place by the Premier for adherence by Members of the Executive Coun- cil?” Those are the questions Conflict of Interest Commissioner Ted Hughes says he will endeavor “Teport publicly on the matter” sometime in March. When Hughes accepted the assignment, he said he didn’t relish it. That’s understandable. Not only is it difficult to investigate the man who appointed you, it’s all the more difficult when that man is the premier of the province. Furthermore, the Fantasy Garden controversy is such a politically charged issue, there’s a danger that no matter what Hughes finds, some people will question his impartiality. - On the other hand, Hughes’ reputation as a man of principle and honor would enable him to expose such critics for the political opportunists they are. In a public service whose top echelon is rife with political hacks and hangers-on, Hughes has been one of the few exceptions. Hughes was a judge in Saskatchewan. Here in British Columbia, he served as deputy attorney general until his retirement last year. He showed his mettle when he kept the justice system from falling into disrepute during the Bill Reid-Bud Smith-Moe Sihota scandal. Asked to. serve as British Columbia’s. first Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Hughes accepted, but insisted that the government remove a rather odious clause from the legislation that would have prevented anyone from raising a matter in the Legislature that was being investi- gated by the commissioner. _ You may have noticed earlier on that Hughes said he’ll determine whether the premier was in breach of the guidelines he himself had put in place. He can’t apply the Conflict of Interest Act because it didn’t become law until December 21, 1990, months after the sale of Fantasy Gardens. Party’s future sealed - Hughes says he’s already had a number of conversations with Opposition Leader Mike Har- court and the premier, during which he got both men to agree that he follow the same procedures he used in his investigation into the Bud Smith scandal. “That will involve me studying all available and relevant documentation, interviewing all those who have information that could assist me and are prepared to impart that information to me,” Hughes said. “That will be followed by my preparation of a report which will, immediately after completion, be made public. In it I wall detail the documenta- tion that was at my disposal, those with whom I have met and the substance of what I learned from them,” he said. “T will then record my answers to the two questions (above) and the reasons for reaching those answers.” Hughes said that although he will probably know very soon whom to interview, he still welcomes assistance from anyone who has know- ledge about the matter. For that purpose, he even included his office address and telephone number in the press release. It’s 548 Michigan, Tel: 356-9283. While a vindication would remove a considera- ble load from Vander Zalm’s shoulders, it would not necessarily improve the Social Credit Party’s chances for re-election. Too much damage has been done already, and that’s not just my opinion, but that of a lot of old-time Socreds. Jim Nielsen, cabinet minister under Bill Ben- nett, said a few days ago that it would take more than a miracle or a vindication of the premier to keep the NDP from winning the next election. There was a good chance, he said, that the party would not survive the election. It was inevitable, and a lot of people knew that at Whistler, he said, and anyway, the Vander Zalm party of today had very little in common with the Social Credit party of a few years ago, he added. But of course, the premier didn’t resign. He asked to be investigated for conflict of interest. What bothers me is that he, once again, applies a double standard. When, for instance, Peter Dueck was under suspicion of being in conflict of interest, he had to step aside for the duration of the investigation. “He did the honorable thing,” the premier said of Dueck at the time. If it was good enough for Dueck, why, I wonder, doesn’t the premier, too, do the honorable thing? TeReview Wednesday, February 27,1991 — A7 a Just Arrived! Clothing eS a Yarns Woo! Ss 'Neediework NINJAT URTLES! #10, 7816 East Saanich Rd.. Saanichton, B.C. 652-2484 Gait gets humanitarian oe 20-YEAR LIONS CLUB member Ed Gait was recognized by his peers with the highest distinc- tion Feb. 16 when the Melvin Jones Fellowship was presented to him, symbolizing the attributes characteristic of individuals who are dedicated to humanitarian service through generosity, compas- sion and concern for others. Established in 1973 as a tribute to the founder of Lions Club International, the Jones Fellowship was presented by president Harry Johnson at a banquet and dance at Glen Meadows Country Club. Besides chairing and serving on numerous committees, Gait was president of the Central Saanich club in 1982-83, first vice-president in 1981-82, Lions Hall chairman in 1984-87 and Central Saanich Days chairman in 1976. Gait received a lapel pin and plaque showing he is a Melvin Jones Fellow and his name will be displayed at Lions Club International headquarters. kK A TRIBUTE TO A MAN who didn’t change with the times. A regular conversationalist and coffee drinker at Smitty’s Brentwood restaurant, Malcolm (Mac) Armstrong, 74, was a usual sight riding a bicycle from Central Saanich to Sidney, continually dressed in clothes befitting a logger, his profession. Some say that every day for 12 years Mac would hop on his bike for his usual stops, frequently going on to hike in the wilds near Willis Point. Mac met God in those wilds, collapsing near a small waterfall in the McKenzie Bight area, where he was found by hikers, about 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10, the RCMP said. Mac will be missed by many. * OK OK A BRIDE PRICE of 30 head of cattle was offered to the father of Review reporter Valorie Lennox during a visit to a local sewing coopera- tive in Garamwera Village, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe women took pity on Len- nox’s spinster state — unusual for an African woman — and readily offered sons or brothers to resolve the problem. After some brisk negotiation conducted on Lennox’s behalf by provincial governor Kenneth Manyonda, the offer of 30 cattle was made on the understanding that father John Lennox would come to Zimbabwe to collect the cattle. “We don’t ship,” the governor’s aide announced. 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